Stele of the 16th с. from Kumukh village - a highly artistic work of Islamic art

The article examines the features of decorative decoration of the tombstone of the beginning of the 16th century from the village of Kumukh (Lak district, Republic of Dagestan). Earlier this stele drew attention of art critics, historians, epigraphists, but as the monument of stone-cutting art and highly artistic work of Islamic art not studied in detail. Proceeding from a skillful carving of the stele, the accurate, clear, well thought decor composition, calligraphic Arab inscriptions in a harmonious combination with a vegetable ornament, the author considers it as highly artistic work of medieval stone-cutting art of Dagestan. The author admits the possibility of dating the stele a little earlier than previous researchers, namely the beginning of the 16th c. taking into account the features of its artistic. Judging by the size, decoration of the stele and epitaph, it can be believed that the buried man had a high lifetime social status and died as a martyr (Arab. shahid al-sa'id ) in the battle during the military confrontation between the Ghazi-Kumukh shamkhals and Kabarda princes.